Asia

August 9, 2025 @ 1:45 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The venture capital ecosystem in Southeast Asia is undergoing a significant transformation, as highlighted in PitchBook’s Q3 2025 Analyst Note titled Southeast Asia’s Early-Stage Capital Crunch. The report from PitchBook underscores a tightening of early-stage funding, driven by cautious investor sentiment, macroeconomic uncertainties, and a… Read More

August 7, 2025 @ 4:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a report released by TRM Labs, titled Shadow Bankers: Illicit Actors in Crypto Networks, the blockchain analytics firm delves into the clandestine world of cryptocurrency-enabled financial crime. The document provides a comprehensive analysis of how illicit actors exploit decentralized finance (DeFi), centralized exchanges, and… Read More

August 7, 2025 @ 12:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Q2 2025 Singapore Market Snapshot, released by PitchBook on August 4, 2025, offers a comprehensive overview of the nation-state’s evolving macroeconomic and microeconomic landscape, spanning both private and public markets. As one of Asia’s financial hubs, Singapore continues to demonstrate resilience amid global economic… Read More

August 5, 2025 @ 11:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong is emerging as a global hub for fintechs, driven by the steady adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. As the city opened applications for stablecoin issuer licenses on August 1, 2025, fintech companies have been quick to seize the moment, raising substantial capital… Read More

August 5, 2025 @ 10:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Mubadala Capital, the asset management arm of Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, has joined a $150 million Series C funding round in Anaconda Inc., a US-based provider of open-source infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) and data science. The round was led by New York-based growth… Read More

August 5, 2025 @ 9:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Grab Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GRAB), Southeast Asia’s superapp, released its second-quarter 2025 financial results on July 31, 2025, showcasing growth in its financial services and FinTech-related businesses. The company, headquartered in Singapore, continues to leverage its integrated platform to deliver steady performance across its mobility, deliveries,… Read More

August 3, 2025 @ 10:48 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Taiwan-based artificial intelligence (AI) data center infrastructure firm Zettabyte has raised new strategic funding from Lam Capital, the corporate venture arm of U.S.-based semiconductor equipment supplier Lam Research Corp. The funding round also included participation from major Taiwanese electronics manufacturers Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, the… Read More

August 3, 2025 @ 9:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Telegram’s May 2025 ban on two major illicit cryptocurrency marketplaces, Huione Guarantee and Xinbi Guarantee, has disrupted Southeast Asia’s guarantee services ecosystem, though it has not eradicated it. According to a July 29, 2025, report by TRM Labs, these platforms, which facilitated over $35 billion… Read More

August 2, 2025 @ 6:50 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC), a wholly owned entity of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has signed a real estate finance portfolio purchase agreement with Bank Albilad as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s residential mortgage market and enhance liquidity… Read More

August 2, 2025 @ 3:37 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global Fintech firm Adyen has partnered with Singapore-based restaurant technology provider Atlas to improve payment processes and operational efficiency for food and beverage (F&B) businesses, according to an announcement. Through the partnership, Atlas integrates Adyen’s payments infrastructure into its AtlasPay solution. This offers simplified reporting,… Read More

August 2, 2025 @ 9:57 am By Michael Wong  |  

The SIDC-CASI SRI Conference 2025 concluded in Kuala Lumpur after three days of discussions focused on accelerating sustainable finance across Southeast Asia. Co-hosted by the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC) and the Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI), the event gathered more than 300 delegates… Read More

July 31, 2025 @ 7:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Thunes, the so-called “Smart Superhighway” to move money around the world, announces a collaboration with EzyRemit, one of the digital money transfer operators, to enable cross-border payments to overseas communities worldwide. EzyRemit has offices in “Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, the US and Vietnam, and… Read More

July 30, 2025 @ 11:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced the implementation of a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers, set to take effect on August 1, 2025. This move underscores Hong Kong’s commitment to fostering Fintech advancements in the digital asset space while ensuring financial stability and consumer… Read More

July 30, 2025 @ 2:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent move for the United Arab Emirates’ financial services sector, RAKBANK has become one of the first banks in the MENA region country to offer crypto brokerage services directly to retail customers through its mobile app. This milestone marks a step toward integrating… Read More

July 30, 2025 @ 12:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Sumsub completed the Malaysia e-KYC assessment, confirming that its digital identity verification technology meets the standards set by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). The independent evaluation was conducted by Deloitte and “covered Sumsub’s ID verification, liveness detection, and facial recognition modules.” The report validated Sumsub solutions’… Read More

July 29, 2025 @ 11:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move to deepen its footprint in the Philippines’ digital payments ecosystem, Tonik, the nation’s digital-only bank, has launched QRPH transfers within its mobile app, enabling enhanced digital transactions across a vast network of over 675,000 merchants and 1,824 billers. This initiative marks another… Read More

July 29, 2025 @ 1:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Airwallex, a global Fintech platform, has made significant progress this year, reinforcing its mission to enable businesses with digital financial services. The company recently announced the launch of its Airwallex Yield product in Singapore, following regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and… Read More

July 28, 2025 @ 3:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Emirates Airline and Dubai Duty Free are taking steps to integrate cryptocurrency into their payment systems through separate partnerships with digital asset platform Crypto.com, as part of Dubai’s broader ambition to position itself as a global digital finance hub. Emirates plans to accept cryptocurrency payments… Read More

July 28, 2025 @ 12:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

Lean Technologies has gained in-principle approval from the Central Bank of the UAE. Lean is a financial infrastructure firm enabling payments and data for businesses.  Founded in 2019, Lean reports supporting over 300 companies and has processed more than $2 billion in transaction volume through… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 11:29 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised down its growth forecasts for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific for both 2025 and 2026, citing weaker external demand, global trade uncertainty, and subdued domestic consumption. According to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) July 2025 report… Read More